Substandard projects 11 brgy chiefs use being new as an excuse

CEBU, Philippines - Eleven neophyte barangay officials excused themselves of any liability in the implementation of substandard infrastructure projects in their respective barangays claiming that it was their first time and they were not familiar with the process.

The barangay officials were summoned by the City Hall fact-finding committee to shed light on the alleged irregularities in the implementation of infrastructure projects in their barangays.

Lawyer Dominic Diño, member of the fact-finding committee, said that the captains of Babag, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Bonbon, Toong, Pamutan, Sinsin, Sapangdaku, Kalunasan, Suba and Inayawan also claimed during the investigation that they did not know that their projects were substandard because they lack the technical know-how.

Diño said the barangays reported that they conducted a proper bidding and they are now compiling the documents to support it.

Diño said that they asked the barangays to submit all documents including the project plan, Program of Works and Estimates and bidding papers, among others for review of the committee.

Diño said the committee will be wrapping up their investigation after they shall have summoned the contractor, Arante Construction. They asked a 15-day extension to come up with their findings and recommendations.

The contractor will be asked to make the necessary corrections in the infrastructures since the projects are still under the one-year warranty. Diño said that some of the projects only had minor defects.

Barangays Babag, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Bonbon, Toong, Pamutan, Sinsin and Sapangdaku are investigated for their substandard road concreting projects. Kalunasan riverbank protection or riprap and Suba covered court including Inayawan drainage system were also found to be substandard.

The substandard projects were discovered after an inspection by a team commissioned by Rep. Tomas Osmeña from the Department of Public Works and Highways in Manila. — (FREEMAN)